A Grade II-listed church in Ancoats has been demolished following a partial roof collapse, Manchester City Council has confirmed. The former Church of All Souls, located on Every Street, dates back to 1840 and was built in the Romanesque style by architect William Haley for Dr Samuel Warren.
Manchester City Council's building control team was called to the property in August due to public safety concerns following the roof collapse. A structural survey subsequently found the building was at risk of collapse and required demolition under the Buildings Act.
The church had not been used for religious or community purposes for four decades and had fallen into disrepair. It was added to Save Britain's Heritage's buildings at risk register in 2023. When the disused building was put up for auction in December 2024, it was described as "the holy grail of redevelopment properties".
Heritage organisations respond
Historic England said it was "sorry to hear" of the loss of a building that was "an important part of Manchester's historic environment".
Save Britain's Heritage described the demolition as "a shocking end for a building which has suffered years of deterioration and decay". The organisation stated that "earlier action should and could have been taken to secure a different future for this church, rather than leaving it to rot".
A Manchester City Council spokesperson said the council's approach is "preservation first".
